Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-30
OUR POLICE FORCE.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE CITY
CHARTER IN RELATION fHEREr0.
A Bill introduced In the House Yesterday
BY Mr.. Dunlop to Correct the Free
holders" Provision, &c.

some years sgo provided that the mem
bers Of the city and county electoral
boards should be freeholders. The
Republicans attacked the law in the
courts, and the Supreme Court of Ap-
peals OF this State decided that the re-
quirement that the members should lie
freeholders was unconstitutional, and,
further, because of that provision the
whole act was declared null and void.
The Richmond city charter says that
our Police Commissioners shall be
freeholders." Itisfeared that this law,
too, is unconstitutional. To meet the
case and to make some desired changes
in relation to the tenure OF Office of the
force, Mr.. Dunlop yesterday intro
duced the following bill. which was re-
ferred to the House Committee on
Militia and Police.
!. Be IL enacted BY the Genfral assembly of
rireinid, That sections ~ and So Of the charter
of the city OF RichInond, as amended by an act
approved April 2, 1873, entitled " An act 10
amend and ro-enact sections y, So 80, -, ",
50, ~, and o., and repeal section 93, OF the
chsster Of the city OF Richmond" be. and the
same are hereby. amended and re-enacte1 80
as 20 -ead as follows:
Section 81 The police department Of the city
OF Richmond shall be under the general con
troll ard management of police commissioners
thereof. who shah consist Of the mayor aud six
citizens, any four OF whom shall constitute o
quorum. The mayor shall be er-oGcio presi-
dent OF the board and shall preside its meet.
ings, and shall have vote in case OF tie. In
his absence tho other membeS may Sc
lect president pro tenpoTe. the other
Sm,emters S,a shall shall be F; N; BS9ysin' Si' Of OF
Clay ward; /. G. Flgr, Of jefferson Ward; j.
". Beyeridge, OF Jackson Ward: A. y. Addi-
son, Of Madison Ward, and J. b. Welsh. of
Marshall Ward, voters Of said city holding no
ofice-State, Federal or municipal-who
shaIl serve for the following periods respec-
tlvely--lbat Is 10 say: Il. NJ. Boykin till July,
1851. F. T. d. Myers TIL July. 1897 l.. G. Flcg till
July, 1859; j. W. Beyeridge till July. 1890: A. II.
Addlson till July. 1891, and j. B. Welsh I'll
July, lsq2-and as the said terms shall expire
the vacancies IN the Board thus created shall
be hlled by election In the month Of July ot
each OF said years by the two branches o.
tho City Council in the following manner;
At least ten days before joint meeting OF the
Council fer such election. as Is herein provided
for, an order for slch election shall be entered
Gu the journals OF the two branches OF the
Council and q copy OF the same forwarded 70
the Board Of Public Interests Of said city. The
said Board shall select by q rird-r0ce vote,
which shall be recorded In their minutes and
copy Of the same forwarded with their nonina-
tions TO the Joint meeting, three persons from
each ward for which the vacancy Is 20 be filed,
which persons shall be voters in said city, and
shall not hold any Office, municipal, state, or
Federal, and their names shall be certified
TO the City Council by the President OF
tho Board of Public Interests as the persons
flom whom such election IL 10 be- made, to-
gether with the recorded vote OF sai1 Boarl Of
Public Interests, az above required. From the
three Eames thus sent in 10 the Council the
said Council. meeting In joint session, shall
proceed 10 elect one 70 serve for the period Of
six years; but no persOn shall be elected who
shall not receive a majority in each branch of
tho Council OF the whole number OF members
elected 20 each branch. And In case thore Is
no election, or any person elected declines tO
net, or whenever there-is vacancy, the Board
of Public Interests ehall in Ike manner pro-
ceed to nominate 10 the Council three times as
many persons from the ward in which the VA
cGncy occurs as there are vacancies, AMI said
vacancy shall be filed as above described !;
and as the terms Of the commissioners chosen
under this act expire the vacancies in the
Beard thus made shall be filed by select
ing members for six years, whereby all
will serve six years and one be elected
I'm July OF each year in the manner hereinbc-
fore provided. The said Board may adopt rules
and regulations for the government thereof; t.
may establish. prOmulgate. and enforce proper
rules, regulations. and orders for the good gov
eminent Of the police force; and. In any inye3-
DghtlDn pertaining 20 tuelf OlUe-, snail laFo
power 10 send for persons aud papers, aud by
their president 70 administer an oath; pro-
ydod that said rules and regulations snail nor
In any way conflict with any ordinance Of tho
City Council The mombors OF said Boari ma,
be removed at any time ty vote OF two thir IL OF
the City Council elected for good cnuso upon
proper charges and specifications made and
proved. Ifany member shall resign, cease TO be
ayoter. or be candidate for any onico, Federal,
State. or municipal, there shall be at once va
cnncy In said Beard which shall be filled as nfore-
said and when any member OF the Police Com
mission is named as All applicant orcandidate.
or as proper 10 10 supported as candidate
for any Office or proper p0rson 10 re-
ceiye such Office. the president shall or
any member OF the Board may notify him
that lis name h mentioned in connection
with such oflice; and II said member do not
within two davs after the receipt OF such
note file with the president Of the Board his
statement in writing that he Is neither candi-
date nor applicant for such Office. and that nc
Will net serve, nor accept II II elected or ap-
pointed, then said Board shall declare his place
vacant. which shall DO hlled in the manner here
inbefore precritod. When vacancies are filled
Tor any cause they shall bo flled only for tho
unexpired term.
Section 50. The police force Of the city shall be
APPOINTED by the Board Of Police Commissioners
as vacancies occur, and rs borcin provided.
The ssid force snail consist Of chief OF police,
surgeon OF police. and as many officers and
Iriyates as the City Council msy by ordinance
Ifct(llDe. except thut tne lOfct, OiHcttS tnl
urivatea, shall not be reduced below It's present
size. As the terms for which the present police
force we're appointed shall expire new appoint.
ments shall be made by the said Board OF PO-
lice Commissioners. All new appointments.
including the chief, shall be for good behavior.
The pay Of the police shall DO ixed by tho Ci;y
Council by ordinance.
Tho chief Of police shall be responsible Tor
the discipline and efficiency of the police force.
All orders shall pass through him except so Ia
as the rules, regulations, and orders OF tho
Beard Of Police Commissioners authorize or
ders 20 be given direct to any subordinate on
the police force; any member Of the fOrco. In.
cluding the chief. mny be removed, suspended.
or fined by the Board Of Police Commissioners
upon proper cause shown, and In cases whore
a fine IS imposed may order the same TO BE- do
Quoted from his pay.
The Beard Of PuDlc Interests shall remain
So now constituted by ordinances OF the said
city. and tho Police Commissioners appointed
~ or elected under this act shall continue In
olice until their successors shall be duly elect
ed and qualified.
?. This act shall be in force from It's passage.